Following the decision Wednesday by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control’s (CDC) decision to extend its no-sail order for cruise operations through October 31, Carnival Cruise Line said today that it has cancelled cruises from all U.S. home ports except Miami and Port Canaveral for November and December 2020.
Carnival said operations from Miami and Port Canaveral in November and December were still not certain, but that it would focus its initial return to service from those two homeports, whenever that might occur.
Following the CDC decision, cruise lines will be able to resume operations on November 1, if the order is not extended. According to media reports the CDC had wanted to extend the ban through February 15, but was overruled by the White House Coronavirus Task Force.
In a statement released after renewing the ban, the CDC said: “Cruise ships continue to be an unsafe environment with close quarters where the disease spreads easily and is not readily detected.”
>Great Discounts and Cruise Deals on Cruise Direct
Carnival offering future cruise credit and onboard credit – or a full refund
Carnival said meanwhile that it is continuing to work on protocols and procedures that would allow for the resumption of cruise operations, with a gradual, phased-in approach, designating Miami and Port Canaveral as the first two homeports for embarkations.
Cruises currently scheduled for November and December from those two homeports will remain in place for the time being while Carnival evaluates options. However, the cruise line is providing guests booked on cruises in November and December out of Miami and Port Canaveral the ability to voluntarily cancel their reservation and receive the same offer that all other impacted guests are receiving, which includes a combination future cruise credit and onboard credit, or a full refund.
“As we have said throughout this pause, our return to operations will be gradual and phased in. And while we are not making any presumptions, once cruising is allowed, we will center our initial start-up from the homeports of Miami and Port Canaveral,” said Christine Duffy, president of Carnival Cruise Line.
“The health and safety of our guests, crew and communities we serve remain the cornerstone of our plans and decisions. The patience and support of our guests and travel agent partners have been a huge motivation to our team as we have worked through this unprecedented situation and we are dedicated to getting back to operations when the time is right.”
>Great Discounts and Cruise Deals on Cruise Direct
